World Passport Ranking in September 2024

In today’s world, it’s impossible to travel between countries just like that. To cross another country’s border, you need special permission from the local authorities. Visas and permits are a way for each country to control the flow of tourists and protect itself from illegal migrants. Visa regimes and associated restrictions are designed to minimize the risks of unauthorized border crossings. The current visa regime requires obtaining a visa – a special authorization document to cross the border. Unilaterally or bilaterally, countries determine which individuals are granted the right to enter their territory, the conditions of stay, and the duration of their stay. At the same time, countries may agree on establishing a visa-free regime, in which case, showing a foreign passport upon entry into the country is sufficient.

This leads us to the concept of the “strength of a passport.” What does this mean? The passport strength index indicates how many countries a citizen of a given country can freely visit without a visa or without obtaining prior visa permission. The passport strength ranking is especially important for frequent travelers, such as bloggers, professional travelers, or those traveling for business purposes – businesspeople and entrepreneurs. The freedom of choice is what’s particularly valuable in today’s world!

Existing Passport Strength Rankings

Currently, there are two main methods for determining passport strength. They are based on similar principles, but slight differences in the calculation methods may result in somewhat different outcomes in different countries:

• The Passport Index portal considers how many independent countries a citizen of a specific country can enter with just their personal resident passport. The ranking takes into account countries with a completely visa-free regime as well as those where obtaining a visa is a minor formality. Typically, obtaining it requires minimal time and effort.

• The Henley & Partners passport ranking uses the travel mobility index in its calculations. The information is sourced from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is processed by a separate research group. The Henley passport index considers data from 227 countries and popular tourist destinations where travelers can enter without a pre-arranged visa.

Passport Strength Rankings as of September 2024: First Place, Rises, and Falls

In 2024, the Singapore passport took the top spot – holders of this passport can freely enter 195 countries out of 227 without needing entry permits. Interestingly, Singapore also held the leading position in 2023, allowing its citizens visa-free travel to 192 countries.

As of September 2024, the top 10 countries are as follows:

1. Singapore – 195 countries
2. Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, France – 192 destinations
3. Netherlands, Ireland, South Korea, Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, Sweden – 191 countries
4. Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland – 190 countries
5. Portugal and Australia – 189 countries
6. Poland and Greece – 188 destinations
7. Czech Republic, Malta, Canada, Hungary – 187 countries
8. United States – 186 countries
9. UAE, Lithuania, and Estonia – 185 destinations
10. Latvia, Slovakia, Iceland, Slovenia – 184 countries

Experts emphasize that the UAE has made it into the top 10 countries for the first time. Since the independent index was established in 2006, the UAE has added 152 countries to its “portfolio,” showing the fastest growth. The figure of 185 countries allowed the Emirates to jump from 62nd to 9th place!

Alongside the record-breaking risers, there are also notable fallers. Venezuela lost 17 points, dropping from 25th to 42nd in the passport strength index.

Additionally, analysts highlighted six countries whose passports are among the least trusted. These include:

1. Somalia
2. Yemen
3. Pakistan
4. Iraq
5. Syria
6. Afghanistan

Due to prolonged conflicts, political instability, low living standards, and terrorist threats, these countries are viewed with heightened suspicion. Somalia has been on this list for several years due to the lack of centralized authority in the country. Surprisingly, despite these numerous negative factors, its citizens can still visit 30 countries without obtaining a visa. However, it’s important to understand that border inspections for such citizens may be especially thorough.

Afghanistan consistently ranks last. The country’s passport lost access to another destination in the first half of this year, making it the weakest, allowing entry to just 26 countries without permits.

How the Passport Strength Ranking is Calculated

Since 2006, The Henley Passport Index has taken the lead in analyzing passport strength. This global ranking reflects the level of freedom of movement enjoyed by citizens of a given country. To ensure an objective assessment of each passport, Henley & Partners use the Timatic database. The information in this database is based on the requirements in each country regarding visa, passport, and customs regulations.

The more challenges a citizen of a given country must overcome to travel, the lower the country’s overall ranking. The ranking considers the countries citizens can enter without needing additional permits.

Each country is awarded one point for another country if its residents can enter that country without a visa or permits. Countries where a visa can be obtained upon arrival or where an electronic permit can be quickly obtained are also taken into account.

Assistance in Obtaining a Strong Passport

If you study the passport strength rankings, you’ll notice that European countries dominate the top positions. Directly obtaining a passport from an EU or Schengen country is almost impossible, but you can apply for residency. A residence permit is the first confident step toward obtaining citizenship. For those who don’t want to wait that long, there is another option – obtaining second citizenship through investment – in Turkey, Vanuatu, or Caribbean countries. These countries' passports may not be in the top 10 strongest, but they offer several advantages and allow visa-free travel to slightly fewer countries.

Whichever path to obtaining a second passport you choose, the qualified specialists at the licensed GARANT.in agency are always happy to help and provide guidance. You need only attend a consultation, present your request, and receive a working strategy tailored to your case. We will help resolve your issue comprehensively – from document collection, notarization, apostille, and submission, to obtaining visas, residency cards, or passports, extending status, opening accounts, and obtaining foreign tax IDs. You can safely entrust all these tasks and more to us. With us, you won’t need to spend time, effort, or resources on solving any migration issue.